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With research staff from more than 60 countries, and offices across the globe, IFPRI provides research-based policy solutions to sustainably reduce poverty and end hunger and malnutrition in developing countries.

researcher spotlight

Eliot Jones-Garcia

Eliot Jones-Garcia is a Senior Research Analyst with the Natural Resources and Resilience Unit based in Washington, DC. His research focuses on human-AI interaction, user-centered design, and the ethical and responsible development of AI. Eliot is currently finalizing a PhD on the digitalization of agricultural advisory services at Wageningen University & Research.

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Since 1975, IFPRI’s research has been informing policies and development programs to improve food security, nutrition, and livelihoods around the world.

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Where we work

IFPRI currently has more than 600 employees working in over 80 countries with a wide range of local, national, and international partners.

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Projects

Next-generation crop production analytics using smartphone 3D imaging and dynamic area sampling frames

Next-generation crop production analytics using smartphone 3D imaging and dynamic area sampling frames

As a part of the “Enabling crop analytics at scale” program, supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and managed by Tetra Tech’s AGDATA……

Picture-Based Crop Insurance (PBI)

Picture-Based Crop Insurance (PBI)

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Publications

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Brief

Outcome assessment of the digital agriculture ecosystem in Ethiopia

2026Yesigat, Habtamu; Abate, Gashaw T.; Spielman, David J.
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Outcome assessment of the digital agriculture ecosystem in Ethiopia

Ethiopia is making gradual but notable progress toward the digital transformation of its agricultural sector, driven by investments in connectivity, digital infrastructure, and cross-institutional coordination. Recent policy milestones have established an enabling foundation for scale, including the Digital Ethiopia 2025 and Digital Ethiopia 2030, personal data protection regulation and governance frameworks, and national roadmaps that will steer investment and implementation over the next decade—particularly the Digital Agriculture Extension and Advisory Services (DAEAS) roadmap and the Digital Agriculture Roadmap (DAR). However, persistent structural constraints such as limited rural internet coverage, low smartphone penetration, and unreliable electricity continue to shape the pace and equity of adoption. This paper synthesizes Ethiopia’s digital agriculture ecosystem with a focus on technology, data and analytical capacity, and policy environment. In the technology landscape, work is ongoing to develop decision-support applications alongside digital channels for delivering advisory services. Evidence from multiple pilot initiatives suggests these tools can expand outreach cost-effectively and improve the timeliness and relevance of agronomic guidance. The success of various pilot projects, along with valuable lessons from earlier efforts, strong government commitment, and supportive policies, has driven further investment in Ethiopia’s digital ecosystem. Nonetheless, substantial gaps remain in data availability and quality that limits the production of high-quality and context-specific advisory content. In addition, the reach and intensity of extension services needed to translate digital innovation into sustained productivity gains, income and livelihoods is not yet at the level desired. While Ethiopia’s digital agriculture agenda is well-positioned for accelerated scale, its impact will depend on resolving foundational constraints in last-mile connectivity, power reliability, and the institutions and pipelines required for trustworthy data and localized advisory at national scale.

Year published

2026

Authors

Yesigat, Habtamu; Abate, Gashaw T.; Spielman, David J.

Citation

Yesigat, Habtamu; Abate, Gashaw T.; and Spielman, David J. 2026. Outcome assessment of the digital agriculture ecosystem in Ethiopia. IFPRI Policy Note. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/180318

Country/Region

Ethiopia

Keywords

Africa; Sub-saharan Africa; Eastern Africa; Assessment; Digital Agriculture; Data

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-4.0

Source

Source record

Record type

Brief

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Journal Article

Youth in relation to agroecology: practices, promises, and perceptions in five countries

2026Rietveld, Anne; Guettou Djurfeldt, Nadia; Shijagurumayum, Meghajit; Gupta, Shweta; Tristán Febres, Maria Claudia; Chimonyo, Vimbayi Grace Petrova; Nehring, Ryan; Murugani, Vongai Gillian; Idoudi, Zied; Singh, Sonali
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Youth in relation to agroecology: practices, promises, and perceptions in five countries

In the context of rising youth populations in many low- and middle-income countries, coupled with high youth unemployment and aging farmer populations, this paper asks in what ways agroecology, as a sustainable alternative to the conventional agricultural practices and paradigm, attracts youth to farming and rural-based livelihoods. We draw on empirical data from semi-structured interviews and photovoice conducted with young women and men in five countries: Kenya, India, Peru, Tunisia, and Zimbabwe. In our discussion, we highlight which dimensions and aspects of agroecology resonate with youth and why.

Year published

2026

Authors

Rietveld, Anne; Guettou Djurfeldt, Nadia; Shijagurumayum, Meghajit; Gupta, Shweta; Tristán Febres, Maria Claudia; Chimonyo, Vimbayi Grace Petrova; Nehring, Ryan; Murugani, Vongai Gillian; Idoudi, Zied; Singh, Sonali

Citation

Rietveld, A., Guettou-Djurfeldt, N., Shijagurumayum, M., Gupta, S., Tristán, M., Chimonyo, V., Nehring, R., Murugani, V., Idoudi, Z., & Singh, S. (2025). Youth in relation to agroecology: practices, promises, and perceptions in five countries. Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems, 1-34. Article in press. https://doi.org/10.1080/21683565.2025.2573791

Country/Region

Kenya; India; Peru; Tunisia; Zimbabwe

Keywords

Eastern Africa; Southern Asia; Latin America; Northern Africa; Southern Africa; Rural Youth; Agroecology; Agriculture; Rural Development; Labour; Livelihoods

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open AccessCC-BY-NC-4.0

Links

https://doi.org/10.1080/21683565.2025.2573791 Source record

Project

Agroecology

Record type

Journal Article

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Working Paper

Unpacking the political economy of fertilizer subsidy reforms

2025Chugh, Aditi; Resnick, Danielle
Details

Unpacking the political economy of fertilizer subsidy reforms

Global calls to repurpose agricultural support toward more sustainable and equitable food systems have intensified scrutiny of fertilizer subsidies. While political economy constraints often hinder reform, the exact manifestation of these constraints is rarely examined. To clarify the specific mechanisms at play, this paper systematically reviews peer-reviewed studies from 2000 to 2025 and identifies 38 fertilizer subsidy reform cases across 15 countries. We code political economy factors influencing outcomes at different stages of subsidy adoption and redesign. The analysis shows that ideational factors around self-sufficiency, the private sector, and the social contract, as well as the institutional structures impacting policymaking, are central to successful subsidy introduction. Electoral incentives play a role at both the policy introduction and redesign phases. Yet, political economy factors are not the only prominent drivers. In fact, technocratic considerations about underperformance or corruption became more prominent during redesign efforts but were also present in more than 80 percent of failed cases. This reaffirms that while technocratic factors, including the availability of research and evidence are necessary for subsidy design improvements, they are not sufficient on their own. By distinguishing which political economy factors matter and how they interact with broader policy process dynamics, this study provides a more actionable foundation for anticipating and managing challenges to fertilizer subsidy reforms and repurposing more broadly.

Year published

2025

Authors

Chugh, Aditi; Resnick, Danielle

Citation

Chugh, Aditi; and Resnick, Danielle. 2025. Unpacking the political economy of fertilizer subsidy reforms. IFPRI Discussion Paper 2397. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/180322

Keywords

Fertilizers; Subsidies; Reforms; Policies; Political Ecology

Language

English

Access/Licence

Open Access

Source

Source record

Record type

Working Paper

Events

COVID-19 & food security: A discussion series on big data solutions
IFPRI at External Event

 | 

July 7, 2020, 4:00 – 5:00 pm

COVID-19 & food security: A discussion series on big data solutions

IFPRI Research Fellow Berber Kramer is participating in The CGIAR Platform for Big Data in Agriculture’s digital forum on COVID-19 and food security. This episode will focus on challenges and solutions to input supply chains and on-farm realities. The forum brings emergent research and on-the-ground realities together in conversation in order to map out the direct […]

Blogs

From satellite images to real-world impact: How IFPRI-Dvara collaboration opened new doors for Odisha’s marginalized farmers
Research Post
 | 
December 17, 2025

From satellite images to real-world impact: How IFPRI-Dvara collaboration opened new doors for Odisha’s marginalized farmers

By Berber Kramer and Shalini Roy

Turning crisis into opportunity.

Varying impacts of COVID-19 lockdowns on farmer incomes: Evidence from India
Research Post
 | 
February 24, 2022

Varying impacts of COVID-19 lockdowns on farmer incomes: Evidence from India

By Francisco Ceballos, Samyuktha Kannan, and Berber Kramer

Wheat and tomato crops see very different outcomes.

Harnessing telecommunications network data for rainfall monitoring in developing countries
Research Post
 | 
February 24, 2020

Harnessing telecommunications network data for rainfall monitoring in developing countries

By Noam David, Oliver Gao, and Yanyan Liu

Filling a key information gap can make it easier to provide insurance to smallholders.

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